The goal of the JAXB project is to develop and evolve the code base
for the Reference Implementation (RI) of JAXB, the Java Architecture for XML Binding. The
JAXB specification is developed through the Java Community Process
following the process described at jcp.org. This
process involves an Expert Group with a lead that is responsible for
delivering the specification, a reference implementation (RI) and a
Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK). The primary goal of an RI is to support
the development of the specification and to validate it. Specific RIs
can have additional goals; the JAXB RI is a production-quality
implementation that is used directly in a number of products by Oracle
and other vendors.

The JAXB expert group has wide industry participation with Oracle as the EG lead.
The initial specification (JAXB 1.0) was
JSR-31 and was
released in March 2003.

The next versions of the spec (JAXB 2.0/2.1/2.2) are being developed as
JSR-222. This release addresses
a number of additional requirements in the area, and increases the synergy
between the JAXB and JAX-WS specifications.